Come Back, Buffaslug, All Is Forgiven

By Paul Lukas, on September 5th, 2013

Click photos to enlarge

Sabres forward Steve Ott, unable to contain his revulsion excitement, posted photos of the team’s new third jersey design on Twitter yesterday. Some folks are saying Ott jumped the gun by leaking the design; others say he it was a carefully coordinated maneuver that was supposed to look like a leak. But really, who cares? Any way you slice it, that’s one ugly jersey.

Mostly gold in the front, mostly blue in the back, with the latter having sort of a cape effect — that’s the most obvious problem. But it’s hardly the only one:

• Why put that pointless “Buffalo” lettering on the front?

• Why use a gold outline for a crest on a gold jersey?

• Why use a collar design that sort of mimics the wing collar on a tuxedo shirt? And why have the collar look like its entire function is to play peek-a-boo with the NHL logo?

• Why use super-gigantic NOB lettering?

• Why use gray numerals, instead of white or gold?

The answer to each of these questions, of course, is the same: Because they can. Unfortunately, that’s what passes for a rationale in much of today’s uni-verse.

Remember, we’ve already seen the pants and captaincy letters that will go with these, but not the socks. So maybe the socks will help a bit. But it’s hard to imagine even the coolest socks rescuing this design. The Sabres have pretty much put the puck in their own net here.

And to think they scrapped this design in order to make room for this new thing. What a waste.

+ + + + +

Not-so-dearly “beloved”: I’ve noticed a trend lately. It involves the word “beloved,” which is showing up in all sorts of articles across the media world.

I first picked up on this a few months ago, in this article about the New York Times food writer Melissa Clark, which appeared in the magazine Edible Brooklyn. The article begins by describing Clark as “one of the country’s most beloved food writers.” Just in case anyone might be missing the point, a few grafs later the article refers to Clark’s “beloved six-year-old column” in the Times.

Since then, I’ve noticed the following:

• When the longtime Hoboken indie-rock club Maxwell’s announced that it would be closing at the end of July, news reports routinely described it as “beloved.”

• In a recent New York Magazine article about the Brooklyn pizza restaurant Franny’s getting a makeover, the restaurant’s oven was described as “the beloved pizza oven.” (As an aside, Franny’s itself is often described as “beloved.”)

• The Times recently ran an article about the band the Pixies, whose now-departed bassist, Kim Deal, was described as “perhaps [the band’s] most beloved member.” (Or, one presumes, perhaps not. Bad writing right there.)

• The kicker came when I saw a certain uniform columnist named Paul Lukas being described as “beloved and lovingly berated” in the lead-in to an interview I recently did.

I didn’t go looking for any of these examples — I just happened to notice them. Granted, they could just be isolated instances, and maybe one could identify a similar trendlet for other words just by doing some creative Googling.

Still, there’s something irksome about the term “beloved.” For starters, it’s too sentimental, too squishy. More importantly, it falsely implies the existence of a social consensus — “everybody loves this person or thing or whatever” — and that’s a bit manipulative. Like, what if you don’t love Melissa Clark, or Maxwell’s (or me)? Seeing that person or thing described as “beloved” carries the implicit suggestion that you’re isolated, out of step, or just wrong.

I’m pretty sure I’ve never described a uniform or logo as “beloved.” I plan to keep it that way. (“Accursed,” however, is still fair game.)

NFL News: Mike Ditka’s likeness is the inspiration behind Ditka Kids Gridiron Clothing, a collection that does not carry polyester jerseys or licensed NFL products, but rather targets parents who desire boutique-quality garb for their active child. “No, really,” says an incredulous Phil. … Interesting point by Steve Gronauer, who says the new Dolphins unis, with the de-emphasis on the orange trim, reminds him of the team from Playmakers.

College Football News: Sports business reporter Matthew Kish did something all the rest of us in the sports media world were too lazy to do: He filed public records requests for the shoe and apparel contracts of every FBS school, and then he scrutinized them. He found some real eye-openers. Highly, highly recommended (thanks, Phil). … Reprinted from yesterday’s comments: New merit decal system for Tennessee (from Jim McGee). … The Longhorns have voted to keep the TV numbers on their helmets. … Speaking of the Longhorns, they’re using masks that simulate high-elevation conditions in preparation for their game against BYU (from Ken Tobler). … A little birdie informs me that Ohio’s Oct. 26 game against Miami will be a “Ghost Out”: “They will be giving away replica white jerseys and the team will be wearing a new jersey. It will be similar to the current whites with the shoulder stripes and all. In addition they will have ‘Ohio’ arched across the front above the numbers and the numbers themselves will be green but with a brick pattern on them.” … Another birdie says Temple will be wearing a different uni combo for every game of the season, including a throwback design this weekend to honor former head coach Wyane Hardin. He coached in the 1970s and early ’80s, so that’s presumably the era that the throwback will be based on. … New uniforms for Central College (from Cody Dannen). … ECU’s blackout game tonight will include black-painted end zones (thanks, Phil). … Notre Dame is fixing its misspelled beverage cups (from Warren Junium). … Bryan Stevens wonders if the Wyoming helmet shown in the background of this shot will make it onto the field. He also notes that the team has a new brown jersey. “They wore something similar to that in the last home game last season, and it looks like it’s the full-time brown jersey this year,” says Bryan. “Also, you can see that the nose bumper now says, ‘Locked In.'” … Colorado will wear pink-accented gear on Oct. 26, against Arizona. … When Rice played Texas A&M last weekend, Rice’s pep band decided to needle the A&M fans by wearing shirts with Johnny Manziel’s autograph (from Sam Jurgens).

NBA News:Paul Kos found some more photos from that unusual-looking 1968 Bullets/Celtics game. Meanwhile, the explanation for the color-vs.-color and the mismatched Celts shorts comes from Steve Ceruolo, who thinks he attended that very game: “I remember attending a Celts/Bullets game on a Sunday afternoon which also happened to be St. Patrick’s day. The Celts wore green jerseys on that day with their white shorts to celebrate the holiday (I was into unis way back then!). This picture may have come from that game.”

Sabers new 3rd uni, I would like to introduce you to Jax Jaguars, Cincinnati Bengals, and some other friends – as you join the “truly a mess” club. Luckily only a 3rd jersey, so your status is honoury only, as opposed to a fully devoted member.

If Ott’s number was 99 he’d really be in deep sh*t. The jersey and pants are frickin’ brutal. Let’s go for a trifecta with equally ugly socks.

Steve D|
September 5, 2013 at 8:07 am |

The new Yahoo logo is not bad…could have been worse. Unfortunately they “updated” the look of a lot of their content pages, especially in Sports, and made them unusable.

As for the Channel 17 jersey, lucky they used direct sewn numbers, otherwise they would have just ripped the nameplate off and changed it.

arrScott|
September 5, 2013 at 10:32 am |

I’m waiting for the new Yahoo! logo to throw its hat in the air and twirl on the street before going in to work at a humorous Minneapolis TV station. If the web existed in the 1970s, every online logo would have looked like this. It’s not bad, as typographic logos go, it’s just … odd for its medium and time.

I’m pushing 20+ years on the web and never used Yahoo products much, so I don’t really have any emotional investment, but I think the font comes off as “weak.” Reminds me of bamboo (I know; bamboo is actually quite strong) or stilts, or toothpicks.

Jason M (DC)|
September 5, 2013 at 12:49 pm |

I don’t think the new Yahoo! logo is bad. I still prefer the original. I thought it was fun and distinct. I’m glad that they didn’t go with the one that I thought was the new one. (That was probably the first of the 30 ones they floated.) I don’t think it’s bad. But I think it’s trendy in that they’re going with the sans serif font like everyone else. And it feels a little corporate. …But whatever. They’re trying to make the business better.

Gamma Male|
September 5, 2013 at 8:28 am |

I just wanted to say that I love this sentence:

“everybody loves this person or thing or whatever”

I love imagining some NYT writer, one who is just barely hanging in there, throwing this sentence in the opening paragraph about somebody or something that he couldn’t really give a shit about.

Made me smile – sometimes it’s the little things…

Phil P|
September 5, 2013 at 8:30 am |

Yahoo can claim their 3D look is meant to look architectural, but really it just looks like someone using to use photoshop and just added the bezel (beginner me would also do the drop shadow, of course!)

Rad|
September 5, 2013 at 8:48 am |

Wow, impressive, Reebok… Another jersey with the name under the collar. Now the guy who has no idea that’s a Buffalo Sabres jersey & doesn’t care will pick one up off the rack & make an impulse purchase of $300.00.

The poor team executives, who have to listen to a sales pitch from Reebok telling them their logo/brand is so weak that they need a clown suit to sell merchandise. Yeah, because that multi-panel mess will one day become more iconic than the crest, right?

No wonder more and more teams look like clowns, when clowns are deciding what they’ll be wearing…

I’m quite certain that Reebok doesn’t tell any team what they can or cannot wear. They’ll give the Sabres a template, perhaps, but they have no say in what colors or what design elements the team will incorporate as long as it fits the template.

No, this pile of gold-gray-and-blue crap was shoveled onto the fans by the Sabres. Cash grab? Sure. But only if they sell. And they won’t.

Tom V.|
September 5, 2013 at 9:33 am |

I agree Teebz that these bad designs are 100% on the teams, the colleges, etc, and too many times people want to blame Nike or Under Armour for bad designs, when in fact it is the teams, colleges, owners. The team/college/owner has the final say on what their team wears. That’s one of the perks of being an owner.

But, Rad does raise a point that perhaps Reebok comes and sells the owner with data on sales and what recruits like and what the new look is. So suddenly the owner starts thinking…hey maybe these guys are right. After all, the owner most likely isn’t a uniform guy (or willing to listen to the purists), he’s some big financier who wants to follow the trends. After all, Reebok (and Nike and UA et al) are the supposed professionals in the uniform field, why shouldn’t he listen to them?

And so we get a jersey like this. Reeboks ugly template that they were able to sell the owner into accepting.

CortM|
September 5, 2013 at 2:37 pm |

Fine, I shouldn’t have used Reebok. My deepest apologies to the fine folks at that august institution.

My point is that this is how everything works these days: the Sabres have no need for a third jersey; it’s a marketing tool. No team needs a third jersey. It’s the salesman’s job to convince the team that employing a third jersey, or a two-toned football helmet, or alternate logos, will result in Increased Profile and consumer approbation. It’s Harold Hill, selling the “Think Method”: the teams, particularly the second tier, lower profile teams, gobble it up.

Steve Jobs lured Tim Cook away from Coca-Cola with a single question: “Do you want to spend the rest of your life, selling sugared water?” The problem is that it’s all sugared water, every bit of this ridiculous culture.

That was my point. Everyone is selling crap, and the crap is being bought by people who are both stupid and irrationally convinced that buying the crap will make them popular.

Rad|
September 5, 2013 at 9:40 am |

I didn’t say that Reebok tells any team what they can or cannot wear.

It is the sales department’s job to convince them they need a redesign (unless the Sabres solicit their help). Reebok designed the jersey, and their sales department “sold” it to them (marketing). Reebok has the graphic designers, not the Buffalo Sabres.

It reminds me of the mechanic who can never fully repair your vehicle, and twirls his moustache when he sees you coming in the door every other month, for a “new” problem.

Nike makes more money from the Jaguars redesign investment than they do from steady sales of Green Bay Packers merchandise. No supplier will ever “fix your car” properly again.

To have an alternate uniform, the NHL must approve the changes to the uniform scheme well before any designs are even scribbled. That means the original concept has to come from the team in terms of them looking at their own sales and profitability from merchandising since they propose the idea to the NHL. Once that’s in place, Reebok is brought on with their templates and designs.

Individual teams are business operating under one umbrella contract with the NHL. Reebok can point out the obvious in terms of jersey sales (the same data the team would have), but the team has to start with an application to the league for a uniform change.

To suggest that the uniform designers are responsible for alternate jerseys is ludicrous. Otherwise, the Red Wings, Devils, Jets, Stars, Oilers, Panthers, Kings, and Flyers would already have them since Reebok would simply say “we can sell more if we have more options”. Especially when you consider that the Jets, Kings, Flyers, and new Stars set of jerseys have been some of the best sellers over the last couple of years.

Rad|
September 5, 2013 at 10:12 am |

I’m not disputing the process; you are correct on that.

What I’m saying is the suppliers make their money on redesigns. To make it sound like Reebok waits for the phone to ring, requesting their services, is false. They actively solicit these changes.

CortM|
September 5, 2013 at 12:02 pm |

That’s a crucial point. The uniform manufacturers are soliciting the changes, and the clubs are looking for a way to increase revenue.

The Sabres are a regional team. And the region is foreshortened: at least half of the area within 100 miles of Buffalo is actually Toronto Maple Leafs territory. Nobody outside of western New York (or the vast WNY diaspora) cares about the Sabres: When was the last time you saw someone who wasn’t a Buffalonian wearing a Sabres jersey?

So Reebok comes to the club with some awful, ridiculous design, tells them, “This is what the kids want!” and the team ignores its traditions and any pretense to good taste, thinking, “Soon, the Hippity Hop singers will be wearing Sabres gear!” Reebok — who understands that short of the Pope and One Direction switching to an all-Sabres wardrobe, the team will never be more than a regional seller — makes money, because the loyal fans will buy any garbage the team sells. And the club ends up looking like greedy imbeciles.

So Reebok comes to the club with some awful, ridiculous design, tells them, “This is what the kids want!” and the team ignores its traditions and any pretense to good taste, thinking, “Soon, the Hippity Hop singers will be wearing Sabres gear!”

Where is the evidence that this dialogue was initiated by Reebok?

Sure, it might have played out that way. Or the team might have said, “We want something new.”

I don’t know which of those is closer to the truth. Unless I’m missing something, neither does anyone else engaging in this debate.

I’m not defending Reebok, but I do think attacks on them (or on anyone) should have some sort of factual basis.

CortM|
September 5, 2013 at 3:04 pm |

I replied in the wrong place. So here goes again, just in the odd chance that people actually care about this conversation:

CortM | September 5, 2013 at 2:37 pm |

Fine, I shouldn’t have used Reebok. My deepest apologies to the fine folks at that august institution.

My point is that this is how everything works these days: the Sabres have no need for a third jersey; it’s a marketing tool. No team needs a third jersey. It’s the salesman’s job to convince the team that employing a third jersey, or a two-toned football helmet, or alternate logos, will result in Increased Profile and consumer approbation. It’s Harold Hill, selling the “Think Method”: the teams, particularly the second tier, lower profile teams, gobble it up.

Steve Jobs lured Tim Cook away from Coca-Cola with a single question: “Do you want to spend the rest of your life, selling sugared water?” The problem is that it’s all sugared water, every bit of this ridiculous culture.

That was my point. Everyone is selling crap, and the crap is being bought by people who are both stupid and irrationally convinced that buying the crap will make them popular.

I wanted to post about these today, but with The Hockey Show on-tap for a busy day, I’m pushing my reviews to tomorrow. That being said, I want to bring aboard Gunnery Sgt. Hartman for his thoughts. Sgt. Hartman?

“Who designed that? Who the f*%k designed that? Who’s the slimy little communist shit, twinkle-toed c*%ksucker down here who just designed his own pink slip? Nobody, huh? The fairy f*%king godmother designed it. Out-f*%king-standing!”

The only saving grace? The long line of shitcrap alternate jerseys by the Buffalo Sabres continues.

Mike V.|
September 5, 2013 at 9:46 am |

These jerseys suck so bad, I bet they can suck a golf ball through a garden hose.

BrianC|
September 5, 2013 at 10:35 am |

I saw a maggot gagging just looking at it.

arrScott|
September 5, 2013 at 10:38 am |

So are we calling it the Buffacape, or the Buffacloak?

Change the colors from gold and blue to gray and black, and it’s exactly how I’d expect Dave’s Geeky Jerseys to handle a Batman sweater. Though maybe a Knightfall-era Batman sweater, what with the little collar thingies.

DenverGregg|
September 5, 2013 at 11:23 am |

Little collar thingies are shaped like the Superman logo, so is this Batman v. Superman?

Will S|
September 5, 2013 at 12:14 pm |

As a long time Sabres fan I was momentarily struck speechless as my first reaction to the new 3rd. The first thing that popped into my head was a quote from a ref in Slap Shot “Too much, too soon”. The second thing, sadly, was: It could have been worse.

hey, as a michigan fan who has suffered through some real doozies the last 2 years, i don’t completely hate the new sabres jersey. the grey is dumb, the yellow logo border on a yellow jersey is dumb, and the collar points are dumb…but i actually really like both the ‘buffalo’ on the front and the NOB size / font. i think with a couple of tweaks it could be pretty good.

TL|
September 5, 2013 at 9:18 am |

One word to describe the Sabres jersey: Buffugly.
Apparently they were made out of the scraps of the Buffaslug disasters.

TIm|
September 5, 2013 at 12:56 pm |

“Buffugly”. That’s awesome.

TL|
September 6, 2013 at 12:06 am |

Thanks, Tim…the jersey inspired me. Or depressed me.

Gazzoo|
September 5, 2013 at 9:26 am |

Yep, the Bullets did play the Celtics in Boston on St. Patricks Day, March 17,1968…

And as far as the Gehrig uni goes, the author is probably over thinking it, Ford was likely a big Gehrig fan and wanted to honor him by using the number in the show.

Me overthink? Just because I’m working on an article comparing “Route 66″ and the perfectability of human nature to the philosophy of Jean-Jacques Rousseau? :)

J.R. Clark|
September 6, 2013 at 12:09 am |

Yeah, you’re overthinking it.

Sometimes, a TV show about two guys driving around the country in a Corvette is just a TV show about two guys driving around the country in a Corvette.

DJ|
September 5, 2013 at 9:27 am |

If you think the whole G.I. Joe thing has gotten out of hand in the sports world, you’ll be thrilled to learn that it has now spread to the realm of military-themed titty bars

A careful reading of the linked article reveals that these military-themed establishments are not so much “titty bars” as they are sports bars/restaurants with scantily-clad wait staff a la Hooters. Not too much difference, I know…

CortM|
September 5, 2013 at 12:07 pm |

Rick’s Cabaret is a strip club chain. This new venture is an effort to expand the brand.

I would not be too terribly surprised if the new place ran ads that said something like “Patriotism. Breasts. And Wings.”

murph|
September 5, 2013 at 9:27 am |

FYI: I LOVE the new league by league breakdown in the daily roundup. Let’s me skip all the NCAA crud I don’t care about :)

Raymie|
September 5, 2013 at 9:27 am |

If only I had a Biz Journals subscription to read the big article on those contracts…

Rich A|
September 5, 2013 at 9:32 am |

that Wyoming helmet is their “worn leather” design done by HGI, the company that does almost all the new CFB helmets.

Leave it to a tool like Ott to be invovled in a leak, calculated or otherwise. I went through his twitter feed yesterday afternoon… I can’t imagine an actual star hockey player tweeting such nonsense.

Then again, this is the guy that told Claude Giroux on 24/7 to look up his stats on NHL.com because he’s good at faceoffs. Loser talk from a guy that’s never won a cup.

But I digress

Jet|
September 5, 2013 at 9:47 am |

So when the Sabres are skating towards you, they’re the road team? And when they’re skating away from you, they’re the home team?

This franchise started with a traditional-styled jersey that should have remained their iconic look forever. Then they started tinkering and its been one big cluster-f*** after another, culminating in this abomination. All in the name of selling merch. BAH!

I think the ‘2 shades of yellow’ that people are complaining about is just Reebok doing the annoyingdifferent materials on the sleeve and chest, the different materials reflect the camera flash differently making them appear different. I suspect they’ll color match fine on the ice.

walter|
September 5, 2013 at 10:59 am |

I’m afraid my Canuckleheads were the first to try this in 1978, with a gold home uniform that was mostly black in the front. But nobody would ever say they started a trend! In fact, if the ’78 Canucks walked in on a 2013 hockey game, they might be mistaken for missionaries.

Jet|
September 5, 2013 at 12:33 pm |

I never saw them that way, Walter. To me it was always clear it was their gold jersey with a orange and black V coming down from the neck. Nothing like this Buffamess.

I wonder is it’s possible that Ford (and the costumer) didn’t really get the concept of a retired number. Or thought that the nationwide audience wouldn’t know or care.

It’s not quite the same, but nine years after Packer legend Tony Canadeo’s number 3 was retired (and while Canadeo was serving on the board), they re-issued it to another player. A few years after that, the Packers re-issued Don Hutson’s #14 to their top draft choice, even though it had been retired in 1951. And this was from the same organization.

The Ford program was before the numbers themselves were hung in the outfield; it seems plausible to me that someone not a baseball fan could have goofed.

Terry Proctor|
September 5, 2013 at 11:33 am |

In the 1989 movie “Major League” you had Yankee players wearing 16 and 37. Probably some fourth assistant costumer ordered Yankee uniforms and had never heard of Whitey or Casey.

Those players pictured in the article about UT wearing masks to prepare for BYU are both Kansas City Chiefs players. Derrick Johnson and Jamaal Charles, who are both Longhorn alums… preparing for Jacksonville.

mild bill|
September 5, 2013 at 12:20 pm |

because the altitude in Jacksonville is brutal….

jim|
September 5, 2013 at 10:12 am |

“Legendary” is a word I see used much too often of late to describe everything from automotive service centers to John Ford & John Wayne (see link in Paul’s Baseball News ticker section). “Iconic” is another word I have reached my saturation point with.

arrScott|
September 5, 2013 at 10:40 am |

Iconic certainly is a beloved cliche these days. Personally, I’m over epic. I keep hoping others will tire of epic as well, and turn to “saga” instead.

concerned billiken|
September 5, 2013 at 12:25 pm |

im glad someone else shares a disdain for epic. how overused that word has become!

Ugh! Sweatbacks! Because, you know, you’re not a true legit basketball team until Nike makes the back of your uniforms look like crap.

Art_Vandalay|
September 5, 2013 at 10:26 am |

Just looking at the back of the Sabres new uni by itself, it’s not horrible. Paired with the front, it’s pretty bad. The thing that really bothers me about the front: there appear to be two shades of yellow. A more dull yellow in the center with a brighter yellow under the sleeves.

BrettG|
September 5, 2013 at 10:31 am |

Regarding the ESPN column, the Bills game vs. The Panthers is their second home game, they open the season this weekend at home against the Pats.

Perry|
September 5, 2013 at 10:37 am |

The heck with the overuse of “beloved,” what jumped out at me in the West Virginia article about Paul was the use of “imminently” when he meant “eminently.”

Silly me, thought it was the Washington Times article Drudge had linked to… everyone’s better for that.

Tom V.|
September 5, 2013 at 2:59 pm |

When the ‘Skins issue comes up on Pauls ESPN columns (and others) I enjoy reading the comments. Yes many are incredibly uninformed and dumb, but I think it really gives you a good cross section of how other folks feel about the issue. There are a lot of other folks who don’t want to see the name changed (or don’t care), but I think the issue is becoming a little more well known.

Kyle B|
September 5, 2013 at 11:02 am |

I do not know why but I am offended that Buffalo would think these are some how an improvement over what I considered to be the best 3rd jersey (maybe even overall) in the league. Honestly, who the fuck does this appeal too? It is lazy, full of “modern” clichés and just plain confusing to look at. They are going the opposite route the Bills have gone in terms of branding. The Bills had arguably the worst unis in all of sports until they went an overhauled their brand. Their new sets are traditional and yet modern, something that the former Sabres third unis evoked. Buffalo is not a modern town. It is a blue color town that prides itself on tradition. Unfortunately these unis stay true to a different Buffalo tradition…a tradition of losing.

F-

Kyle B|
September 5, 2013 at 11:04 am |

collar*

Clint W|
September 5, 2013 at 11:20 am |

The Google Books Ngram Viewer only covers up through 2008, but it does show a slight uptick in the use of “beloved” in American English starting around 2000.

Apparently, Morneau isn’t the only one to make a jersey number change for the Pirates in the last week. Gaby Sanchez, who has been with the team only since LAST YEAR’S trading deadline, switched from number 14 to number 17 when the team acquired John Buck.

At the risk of failing to see any inherent sarcasm, not odd. John Buck has been emotionally attached to #14 for his professional career. (He grew up with #44, his brother #11; the brother passed away so John took #14 to represent them together at the same time.) #14 is a retired number at Shea, for Gil Hodges.

Hey Paul, Sean Here. A fellow BINGHAMTON Alum here and just wanted to tell you that Binghamton recently resurfaced their court apparently. I was noticing in the time lapse video that their baseline colors transition from green to black from the left side of the court to the left. Compared to the atrocity that is the Jaguars football helmet this transition looks relatively smooth. Hope you enjoy

I also had a WTF? moment when I read about the “beloved” Pixies bassist, although it reminded me that I once wrote about the “beloved” Jerry Garcia shortly after he died. I hated the Dead, but got sucked into the general mourning. Anyway, at least Jerry was dead, unlike Kim Deal.

I agree that “beloved” is somewhat less objectionable when used in a post-mortem context, as in the case of Jerry Garcia or Maxwell’s.

For everything else, why not say “popular” (assuming you can back up that assertion)? Less squishy, more easily measured and demonstrated, and therefore more appropriate, at least in terms of good journalism.

Connie DC|
September 5, 2013 at 12:43 pm |

Lest we forget: Elvis Costello had “Spike the Beloved Entertainer” in 1989. It probably presaged absolutely nothing, and only a crazed semiotics teacher would try to make a causal link between EC in ’89 and the rash of contemporary belovedness that Paul decries, but I’m not going to pass on even a scant opportunity to give a shout to the bold Declan.

BvK1126|
September 5, 2013 at 1:57 pm |

“Veronica” off that album is the song that introduced me to Elvis Costello. (Yes, I was a bit of a latecomer.) I’m not saying it’s his best work, but it did prove a good point of entry.

arrScott|
September 5, 2013 at 2:19 pm |

“Veronica” was also my into to Elvis, thanks to late-night play on VH1 in middle school. Produced by Sir Paul McCartney, which may explain why it sounds more like an unreleased late Beatles tune than just about anything else Elvis Costello did. Song still holds up, though, and maybe an easier way into his work than many of his songs.

The ebay listing for the Celtics/Bullets photos contains the following info at the bottom of the listing. “Identification information, Baltimore Bullets vs. Boston Celtics, pro basketball action, March 17, 1968.” We know that the teams did meet on that date and this further confirms that the photos are, indeed, from that game. And I was there as a sixteen year old fan!! I only recall that specific game from among the many Celtics games that I attended in my youth because of the team wearing their road green jerseys with their white home shorts that one time on St. Patty’s day!

hugh.c.mcbride|
September 5, 2013 at 1:43 pm |

Paul: Just a quick note to say I’m really digging the “new & improved” Ticker. I was in the “don’t change the Ticker!” camp when you initially floated your proposed changes, but I think this upgrade improves the experience while retaining the look & feel of the original version. Nicely done!

Opposite of golden age? Great question! On the color wheel, that would be the purple age. In terms of metals, that would be either the aluminum, zinc, lead, or cadmium age. In terms of Batman comics, that would be the Knightfall age.

In terms of the Sabres, though, I think perhaps a simple “Buffalo” suffices to cover the opposite-of-golden-age concept.

Gah, black turf? Any idea how hot that stuff will be? Our high school has it; green turf (which makes sense for a school with green and white for colors), and between the plastic, the reflection from the sun, and the black rubber “turf turds”, temperatures can get 15-20 degrees hotter than the surrounding temps off the field.

Strong possibility that Canada’s Olympic ice hockey jerseys have been leaked out.https://pbs.twimg.co...
This picture is making the rounds on Twitter.

Alec|
September 6, 2013 at 12:59 am |

I can’t imagine that black turf lasting that long compared to any other lighter tinged turf. The fivers, the rubber grit that holds it in place, whatever. The temperature issues for players is just gravy.

Sabres third is awful. Their home jerseys are awful even thought hey ape the classic style. I’d love to see a timeline of management/ownership to suds out when they lost their minds.

At the Traverse City prospect tourney Dallas is kitted out in the new set while Carolina is in their old ones. Go know.

J|
September 6, 2013 at 1:14 pm |

Off-topic, but great job with new new Ticker. Dividing it up by sport category makes it much, much easier to read. I can check out the sports I’m interested in while easily skipping the others.

Great Paul Lukas, Your T-shirt’s Stickers are too fantastic. Your stickers are very attractive. Stickers can create a good image. It is the good way to popualar among people. Just try once tagsports stickers, it is also providing amazing and attractive stickers in reasonable prices.

This is in regard to the scoreboard pic in question. The game is from June 22.1953 .I used baseball reference for helping me investigate this.They have box scores and scores from ever major league game,